Press Release

А two-day international workshop dedicated to aeronautical charts and flight procedure design commenced in Belgrade on September 10, organized by the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia, with the support of the ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Office, Jeppesen ForeFlight, and Lufthansa Systems FlightNav AG. The workshop gathered approximately 40 participants – experts specializing in aeronautical chart and flight procedure design, ensuring their adaptation to end-user requirements, as well as representatives from civil aviation authorities and aviation stakeholders from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Slovenia, and representatives from the ICAO Information Management Panel. Over the course of two days, participants will have the opportunity to share operational experiences, discuss challenges encountered in the design and utilization of aeronautical charts and flight procedures, and deliberate on opportunities for further improvement with representatives from companies that utilize and process published charts and procedures. The workshop was opened by the Acting Director General of the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia, Ognjen Babić, who welcomed the participants to Belgrade and emphasized the significance of gathering experts, regulators, and inspectors from states with which the Directorate has maintained successful long-term cooperation. He stressed that against the backdrop of rapid advancements in aviation, the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices is of vital importance for maintaining safe and efficient air navigation service provision. He expressed his confidence that the workshop would facilitate a high-quality professional discussion, exchange of views, and further strengthening of regional cooperation. An event of this nature holds particular significance given that there are no formally established regional expert panels in the fields of aeronautical cartography and flight procedure design, nor are there regularly scheduled events dedicated to the direct exchange of experience and professional opinions. For civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in the region, this marks the first workshop of its kind. By organizing this workshop, the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia continues its activities aimed at networking regional aviation experts, exchanging knowledge and experience, and strengthening international cooperation, thereby continuously contributing to the enhancement of air navigation safety and efficiency.

GLOBAL SEARCH AND RESCUE DAY — SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 Satellite-assisted rescue: Three major advances for the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Through an array of new services, persons in distress receive confirmation of their signal for help, aircraft experiencing abnormal flight conditions automatically send distress notifications, and an increased number of orbiting satellite payloads enable faster detection and location of distress beacon transmissions. On the occasion of the second Global Search and Rescue Day (Global SAR Day), the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme reaffirms its readiness to serve humanity with new capabilities transforming the speed and reach of emergency response communication. RLS-capable distress beacons can now confirm to persons in distress that their alert has been received and located by the Cospas-Sarsat system, and equipped aircraft can automatically transmit alert information when abnormal flight conditions are detected. The MEOSAR system uses multiple satellites simultaneously to determine a beacon’s location much more rapidly, allowing detection of a distress signal within minutes. These advances build on an existing network that has helped save over 70,000 lives since 1982 — an average of four people saved per day since the programme began, rising to ten people per day in recent years thanks to technological innovations and operational improvements. Cospas-Sarsat relies on more than 70+ satellite payloads and 32 international mission control centres, monitoring activations of approximately three million registered beacons worldwide, at no cost to persons in distress. “For decades, the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system has listened for distress signals around the world and alerted search and rescue authorities. With the Return Link Service, we can now close the loop, enabling confirmation between people in distress and the search and rescue groups responding to them,” stated Cheryl Bertoia, Principal Operations Officer at the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme. “For someone in distress at sea, in the mountains, or anywhere else on Earth, knowing that their alert signal has been received, and that help is on the way, can make all the difference. At that critical moment, a simple message of reassurance can turn uncertainly into hope.” Three technological advances, a single mission The beacon responds and confirms. Through the Return Link Service (RLS), maritime emergency positionindicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and personal locator beacons (PLBs) can do more than transmit a signal: they are now able to confirm to the person in distress that their alert has been received, thus providing reassurance that the distress alert has been successfully acquired and its position determined.  Aircraft autonomous distress tracking. Emergency locator transmitters with distress tracking (ELT(DT)s) now enable an aircraft to automatically trigger an alert and transmit its position when abnormal flight conditions occur — even before any potential impact with ground or sea. This capability, adopted in response to recommendations stemming from prior aviation incidents, meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards developed in response to lessons learned from major aviation incidents and is intended to significantly improve the ability to locate aircraft in distress while still in flight. Significantly faster detection and industry-leading location performance. The MEOSAR (Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue) satellite system — whose search and rescue repeaters are carried aboard the satellites of the world’s navigation constellations — is nearing the final steps toward full operational capability. By simultaneously using several satellites to very quickly determine a beacon’s location, this gain in efficiency will make a major difference when time is a critical factor. “Every technological advance strengthens the same basic, constant, essential link: the human chain of rescue,” emphasized Shefali Juneja, Head of the Secretariat at the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme. “A satellite can detect an emergency, but it is people who make decisions, coordinate efforts, and save lives. Global Search and Rescue Day is dedicated to them, in recognition of the high-stakes work they accomplish each time someone is in distress.” Behind every alert, someone is listening Providing 24-hour monitoring, operators at the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme’s 32 international Mission Control Centres receive alerts from beacons and forward them to search and rescue teams around the world. To honour these dedicated individuals, Global Search and Rescue Day was established on September 10 — the date of the first satellite-assisted rescue in history, which took place in Canada in 1982 when three survivors of a plane crash were located by the Cospas-1 satellite.  The Cospas-Sarsat satellite-aided search and rescue programme reminds beacon owners of the importance of registering their devices, a free process that helps speed up the identification of the person when an alert is received. Operations, images, and statistics are available on the sarday.406.org platform. About Global Search and Rescue Day Celebrated annually on September 10, Global Search and Rescue Day marks the anniversary of the first satellite-assisted rescue in history (Canada, 1982) and pays tribute to the dedicated individuals of the global search and rescue network. Established by the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme, Global SAR Day marks its second year in 2026. Observed around the world, it is recognized by the programme’s institutional partners, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). sarday.406.org #GlobalSARDay #GlobalSARDay  

Representatives of the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia took part in a two-day meeting of regional civil aviation authorities and EUROCONTROL management, held in Skopje on 31 August and 1 September. The meeting, organised by the Civil Aviation Agency of North Macedonia and EUROCONTROL, focused on the exchange of experience, strengthening cooperation and current issues in the field of air navigation. During the meeting, Serbia’s achievements to date and ongoing development activities were presented, with particular focus on EXPO 2027, the integration of eVTOL aircraft and unmanned aircraft, as well as the modernisation of air traffic control technical systems, which will contribute to increased capacity and safety at Belgrade Airport. The meeting also highlighted the successful cooperation between the Civil Aviation Directorate and EUROCONTROL on the implementation of the U-space concept and the integration of unmanned aircraft detection systems, as important steps towards the further development and safe integration of new technologies into the airspace of the Republic of Serbia.

Acting Director General of the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia, Ognjen Babic, signed a Coordination Agreement on 10 July 2026 in Banja Luka on behalf of the Directorate with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation and the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro. The agreement was also signed by Zorislav Ivanovic, Director of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation, and Ivan Scekic, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro, representing their respective institutions. The agreement establishes a framework for coordination among the national supervisory authorities in overseeing the provision of Air Traffic Services (ATS) within the portion of airspace covered by the 2020 Agreement on the Transfer of Responsibilities for the Provision of Air Traffic Services. It provides for the coordination of oversight activities, the exchange of safety-related information relevant to civil aviation, and cooperation in managing changes to the functional system for the provision of air traffic services. The conclusion of this agreement further strengthens cooperation among the national supervisory authorities of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, while enhancing the coordination of activities that contribute to the safety and efficiency of civil aviation across the region.

The management of the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia, headed by Acting Director Ognjen Babic and Acting Deputy Director Verica Jecmenica, met today with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Professor Dr. Đuro Macut, to discuss current issues and challenges in the field of civil aviation. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Serbia, Ahmed Salama Soliman. The participants discussed opportunities for further improving the regulatory framework, strengthening international cooperation, and advancing air transport, with particular emphasis on the proposed amendments to the regulations governing the flight approval process. They also considered the impact of the proposed amendments on air carriers, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of the regulatory system, maintaining the highest safety standards, and creating more favorable conditions for the continued development of civil aviation. Special attention was given to the initiative to establish a scheduled air service between Belgrade and Cairo, which would contribute to the enhancement of air connectivity between the Republic of Serbia and the Arab Republic of Egypt, promote tourism and economic cooperation, and further strengthen bilateral relations.